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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #311327
Title: Mistaken identity: clarification of Rubus coreanus Miquel (bokbunja)

Author
item Lee, Jungmin
item DOSSETT, MICHAEL - British Columbia Blueberry Council
item Finn, Chad

Submitted to: Molecules
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2014
Publication Date: 10/31/2014
Publication URL: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/7/10524
Citation: Lee, J., Dossett, M., Finn, C.E. 2014. Mistaken identity: clarification of Rubus coreanus Miquel (bokbunja). Molecules. 19:10524-10533.

Interpretive Summary: This article was written to target the research communities currently studying (misidentified) native bokbunja (Rubus coreanus Miquel). Most Korean growers and researchers are cultivating or conducting work on R. occidentalis L. (American black raspberries), not R. coreanus. We summarized fruit, plant, and phytochemical characteristics that distinguish the two species. This review will aid in plant species identification, fruit recognition, and determining product adulteration (accidental or otherwise) in the International marketplace. This project was partially funded by a Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant from USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). This paper will be published in a special Anthocyanin issue of Molecules.

Technical Abstract: In the U.S., there has been a recent surge in Korean black raspberry products available and in the number of reports about this species appearing in the scientific literature. Despite this, the majority of products sold and the work carried out has been on Rubus occidentalis L., not R. coreanus Miquel. The importance of accurate recognition of all starting material is multiplied for research downstream, including genetics/genomics, plant breeding, phenolic identification, food processing improvements and pharmacokinetic investigations. An overview of distinguishing characteristics separating R. coreanus from R. occidentalis will be presented. Research conducted on correctly identified fruit will also be summarized to aid future studies that might showcase the unique qualities that bokbunja can offer.